Haze and ash spread across the Front Range Sunday afternoon as the Cameron Peak fire intensified after it burned into more dead pine trees and spruce in Larimer County, and it sent a smoke plume 40,000 feet into the air.
The fire burned on Saturday an additional 10,000 acres along a 4- to 5-mile stretch of land, Paul Bruggink, a spokesman for the Cameron Peak fire team, said. It was expected to burn at least that much additional acreage on Sunday, although firefighters won’t have a good estimate until they can fly over the burn area, he said.
On Sunday, the fire shot a smoke plume 40,000 feet into the air, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder. That’s about eight miles above sea level and almost the maximum cruising altitude for airliners.
The plume spread south throughout the metro area, Bob Kleyla, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder, said. The weather service was receiving reports of ash falling as far south as Denver, he said.
Hot temperatures, low humidity and strong wind combined with dead trees cause the fire to pick up steam as it raced uphill, which always causes fires to burn faster, he said.
“It’s all of these things coming together to make a perfect storm for this to happen,” Bruggink said.
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office issued a mandatory evacuation order Sunday afternoon for Buckhorn Road from Pennock Pass to Larimer County Road 27, and for Larimer County Road 74E east from Red Feather Lakes, according to a tweet from the sheriff’s office. An evacuation center is open at Cache La Poudre Middle School, 3515 West Larimer County Road 54G, Laporte.
Radar cross-sections show Smoke Plume, associated with Cameron Peak Fire, have reached 40,000 ft this afternoon. #cowx #cofire #CameronPeakFire pic.twitter.com/dyso5G6KEa
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) September 6, 2020
The thick smoke rolling across the Front Range led the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to issue a poor air quality alert from Douglas County north to Larimer and Weld counties. The alert, which extends through 4 p.m. Monday, also includes Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and Greeley. Those with heart or lung ailments should avoid outdoor activities.
A Sunday update from Cameron Peak wildfire officials said other western wildfires also were contributing to the poor air quality.
The fire also led Rocky Mountain National Park officials to close Trail Ridge Road until further notice because of poor visibility caused by the smoke.
So far, the Cameron Peak fire has burned 34,289 acres — about 54 square miles — and is 5% contained. On Sunday, firefighters focused on protecting houses and other buildings.
Fire officials hope a Tuesday snow storm slows the fire. But it won’t be enough to put it out, Bruggink said. The fire is so hot that will smolder under the snow, and temperatures are expected to rise later in the week, allowing the fire to continue to burn.
Firefighters need continued snowfall or rain for the fire to die.
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Cameron Peak fire in Larimer County intensifies Sunday, sends smoke plume 40,000 feet up - The Denver Post
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